Method and device for discharging and dehumidifying air in a cooking area

ABSTRACT

A method and a device for discharging air current from a cooking area. The method and the device guide the air current through a sorption agent for absorbing water or water vapor contained in the air current. The sorption agent is regenerated preferably when the air current is not being discharged from the cooking area.

The present invention relates to a method for discharging vapor-ladenair in a cooking area and a corresponding vapor-discharging device. Inaddition, this invention relates to a method for operating a ventdevice.

Numerous problems that occur in conjunction with treatment of air areknown from the state of the art. For the user, such problems arenoticeable most clearly and most directly in discharging cooking vaporsand/or other kitchen odors, especially in a cooking area, so that thisgroup of problems is of primary concern within the scope of the presentinvention. However, this is not to exclude other application fields withwhich those skilled in the art may be familiar, i.e., fields where thesituation is similar or special cutting manufacturing machines infactories that are cooled with an oil-in-water emulsion.

In general the problem of having to remove the vapors and/or odorsformed in cooking occurs in cooking areas. In addition to a very highwater vapor content, these fumes also contain air from which fats andodoriferous substances may be precipitated, among other things. Variousmethods for discharging air from cooking areas and the correspondinghousehold appliances are known from the state of the art to solve thisproblem. With household appliances, vent hoods may be differentiatedaccording to two types of function that differ in general: exhaust hoodsand circulating hoods. Exhaust hoods filter a large portion of the fatparticles contained in cooking vapors out of the vapors and thendischarge the air to the outdoors through a duct and a masonry box orsimilar devices. The effect of such exhaust hoods is good in principle,but installation is often problematical and very complex. Installationis not even possible in many homes, because there is no outside airconnection, for example, or it cannot be implemented at a reasonableexpense. In the long run, however, such vent hoods may also constrict oreven block an exhaust duct such as a chimney due to cooking deposits ormay even destroy them due to a buildup of soot.

Circulating hoods first carry the vented air through a fat filter andthen through an activated carbon filter and then discharge the air thusconveyed back into a room, in particular back into the kitchen. Theeffect of such known circulating hoods is unsatisfactory, however,mainly for the following reasons. There is no removal of moisture, sothe atmospheric humidity rises rapidly in the kitchen when cooking.Furthermore, elimination of odors by the activated carbon filter issatisfactory for only a short period of time because the activatedcarbon filter rapidly becomes clogged mainly by fine particles of fatand water molecules not retained by the fat filter. The activated carbonfilter therefore becomes ineffective and must be replaced frequently.

A device then operates on a purely mechanical basis for reducing the fatcontent of air is known from German Utility Model DE 299 03 794 U1,wherein a mechanical separation grid for separating liquid and/or solidparticles is proposed; this device is based essentially on the design ofa stabilized labyrinth system for improved collection and discharging offluids. However, he good effect described in DE 299 03 794 U1 is limitedessentially to filtering out relatively large fluid and solid particles,but also it produces a loud flowing noise. Functioning is possible onlyin the so-called “fog range.” However it is impossible to separatemoisture from a mixture of air and water vapor using this device.

German Utility Model DE 299 23 124 U1 discloses a device that provides aheat exchanger in a crosscurrent or countercurrent operation withcooling air for condensing the water vapor content out of air. Alabyrinth must always be provided upstream from this device to lengthenthe respective cooling zone because of the relatively minor temperaturedifference between the air and the cooling air. With this device, ingeneral the dew point of humid air cannot be reached in general. Thewater separation effect is inadequate. Furthermore, this approachresults in high flowing noises on the one hand while on the other handalso resulting in a very complex internal structure involving problemsin production and cleaning.

However, German Patent DE 100 20 205 A1 proposes an active cooling ofthe air in a vapor vent hood, performed by a heat exchanger (that isprotected from icing up) with a regulated refrigeration machine.Providing adequate cooling power without icing up, in particular in aresting position, requires a refrigeration machine with relatively largedimensions in view of the large volumes of air to be handled in such adevice. Therefore, this approach has the disadvantage of having a highelectric power demand during operation of such a vapor vent hood inaddition to its large size.

The object of the present invention is to create a method fordischarging vapor-laden air in cooking areas and a corresponding devicehaving improved water separation as well as an improved efficiency.

This object is achieved according to this invention by a method havingthe features of claim 1 and claim 37 and a vapor vent device accordingto claim 18. Advantageous refinements of this invention are the objectof the dependent claims.

An inventive method and an inventive device for discharging air from acooking area are characterized in that the air flow is passed through asorbent (desiccant) for absorbing water or water vapor in the airstream,and the sorbent is regenerated.

This makes it possible in a simple way to bind water, in particularwater in gaseous form in the airstream (humid air) in relatively largequantities without having to provide a high cooling power, for example,to condense the water out of the airstream.

The water-saturated sorbent is preferably regenerated when the device isnot in operation. This is the case at night in particular.

In an advantageous embodiment of this invention, fat and oil and waterdroplets present in the airstream are preferably removed with the helpof a fat filter upstream from the sorbent.

In addition, in a preferred embodiment, odoriferous substances presentin the airstream are separated by means of an odor filter situatedpreferably downstream from the fat filter and preferably downstream fromthe sorbent. It is especially advantageous when a sorbent that canabsorb not only water but also odoriferous substances is used.

In an advantageous embodiment, the airstream which is discharged from aspace above a cooking area, in particular a kitchen, is returned to theroom after being dehumidified and after removal of other substances suchas fat, oil and odoriferous substances, so the present method issuitable for a circulating hood in particular.

In an advantageous embodiment, the airstream is divided into a first andsecond air substream upstream from the sorbent. The first air substreamis passed through the sorbent and the second air substream is passedaround the sorbent. Downstream from the sorbent, the first and secondair substreams are then combined and returned to the room. The airstreamcombined downstream from the sorbent can be adjusted to a moisture levelcorresponding to a moisture level without a cooking process by the factthat the volume flow ratio between the first air substream and thesecond air substream is adjustable by means of an airstream-dividingdevice which is preferably situated, this adjustment being performed bymeans of a valve designed as an air valve and situated downstream fromthe sorbent. Since the first air substream which is passed through thesorbent is almost completely dehumidified and the second air substreamwhich is passed around the sorbent has an excessively high moisturecontent, the moisture level of the airstream on leaving the vaporventing device can therefore be adjusted as desired or as needed fromdrier than the ambient room air to more humid than the ambient room airby means of the airstream-dividing device.

Depending on which agent is used as the sorbent, the sorbent is heatedup to a relatively great extent by sorption of water out of the airflowing through. Downstream from the sorbent, the combined airstream iscooled again to a reduced temperature, which is only slightly above roomtemperature, depending on the volume flow ratio of the two airsubstreams to one another, by passing the second air substream, which isat approximately room temperature, around the sorbent and combining itagain with the first air substream which has passed through the sorbentand has thereby been heated greatly under some circumstances. In thisway it is possible for the airstream leaving the vapor-dischargingdevice during vapor discharge operation to have not only a suitablemoisture content but also a suitable temperature.

In an advantageous embodiment, the water and/or water vapor in theairstream is sorbed, e.g., by means of CaCl₂ and/or LiCl and/or silicagel and/or zeolite and/or SWS (selective water sorbent). In anadvantageous embodiment of this invention, the sorbent is regenerated byheating it to a temperature suitable for desorption of water from therespective sorbent used. Regeneration of the sorbent preferably takesplace when no airstream laden with water vapor must be discharged fromthe cooking area, e.g., at night. For regeneration, a regenerationairstream through the sorbent is produced by the fan during theregeneration process. The regeneration airstream is many times smallerthan the airstream in vapor discharging operation. Therefore,regeneration of the sorbent may be carried out as a very quiet processunnoticed by the user.

In an advantageous embodiment, the sorbent may be heated to the requireddesorption temperature directly by means of heating coils embedded inthe sorbent or heated indirectly, preferably by microwave radiationdirected at the water. In addition, the sorbent may also be heated tothe required desorption temperature indirectly by a heated regeneratingairstream, which is in turn heated by means of a heating device situatedupstream from the sorbent. A heating coil may preferably be designed asan electric heating wire or as a fluid-carrying pipe which may beconnected to the building heating system, for example.

In an advantageous embodiment, the regeneration airstream loaded with anincreased moisture content can be returned to the room. This is not aproblem because the regeneration process proceeds very slowly andtherefore takes place over an extremely long period of time. Thereforethe moisture is supplied to the room in a low dose per unit of time. Inparticular during the winter months when air is very dry due to theheating of rooms, the room air can be humidified slightly over anextensive period of time with the regeneration airstream and therebybrought to a pleasant atmospheric humidity level.

In a preferred embodiment, a condensation unit may be provided in theregeneration airstream downstream from the sorbent for condensing outthe moisture in the regeneration airstream.

The condensation unit preferably has a heat exchanger which may bedesigned as a crosscurrent or countercurrent heat exchanger. The heatexchanger may be cooled with normal room air or with outside air orwater, preferably from the building water system, or by means of a heatpump, preferably a refrigeration cycle or a Peltier element.

In a preferred embodiment, the regeneration airstream upstream from thesorbent is divided into a first regeneration air substream and a secondregeneration air substream. The first regeneration air substream iseither heated briefly and then passed through the sorbent or passedthrough the heated sorbent and the second regeneration air substream ispassed around the sorbent and around a heater. Downstream from thesorbent, the first and second regeneration air substreams are combinedagain and returned back to the room. The first regeneration airsubstream after leaving the sorbent not only has an elevated moisturecontent but may also have a significantly elevated temperature incomparison with the temperature of the room air. By combining the firstregeneration air substream with the second regeneration air substreamdownstream from the sorbent, a tolerable temperature on the whole and asomewhat reduced atmospheric humidity are achieved. By dividing theregeneration airstream into a first and a second regeneration airsubstream, it is possible to accomplish this type of regeneration withonly one fan.

In an advantageous embodiment, regeneration airstream is divided into afirst and a second regeneration air substream upstream from the sorbent.The first regeneration air substream is circulated through the sorbentand the second regeneration air substream is passed around the sorbent.Downstream from the sorbent, the first regeneration air substream issent back to the entrance side of the sorbent through a condensationunit and through a connecting line. The second regeneration airsubstream is sent as a cooling airstream through the condensation unitand then is sent back into the room. In this way, the first regenerationair substream, which is passed through the sorbent, is circulated andthe second regeneration air substream is used for cooling thecondensation unit and following that is sent back into the room at anelevated temperature.

In another advantageous embodiment, the air substream which has beenpassed through the sorbent is not circulated but instead is mixed withthe second airstream after being condensed out. In an advantageousembodiment, the water condensed in the condensation unit is collected ina trough or a pan and either discharged through a drain or collected ina collecting tank.

In an advantageous embodiment, the condensation unit includes a sectionof the outside wall of the housing, whereby the condensation unit iscooled by free convection of the room air on the outside of the outsidewall and water is condensed out of the regeneration airstream on theinside of the outside wall.

In an advantageous embodiment of this invention, the condensation unitis provided with a second fan which conveys the ambient air for coolingthe condensation unit through the condensation unit.

In an advantageous embodiment, the sorbent is arranged either insuccession one after the other or in parallel as a bulk material in anair-permeable container, as a porous molded article or as an arrangementof multiple molded articles or bulk material containers in the directionof flow. Preferably several are arranged one after the other in thedirection of flow in the form of plate-like flat bulk materialcontainers or molded articles so that the flat bulk material containersor molded articles coming in contact with the airstream first in thedirection of flow can be replaced easily because the sorbents coming incontact with the airstream first in the direction of flow may becomecontaminated by fats and oils which have not yet been removed by theupstream fat separator. In an advantageous embodiment, the sorbent isapplied to a porous carrier material such as an open-pore sponge, anonwoven material or a textile, whereby the carrier material is designedpreferably with corrugations or in the form of a honeycomb to form alarge surface area.

Some exemplary embodiments of this invention are illustrated in thedrawings and explained in greater detail below. The drawings show:

FIG. 1 a schematic diagram through a vapor-discharging device accordingto a first exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 a schematic diagram of a vapor-discharging device according to asecond exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 a schematic diagram of a vapor-discharging device according to athird exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 a schematic diagram of a vapor-discharging device according to afourth exemplary embodiment, shown here in the suction-operatingposition;

FIG. 5 a schematic diagram of a vapor-discharging device according toFIG. 4 during the regeneration phase.

FIG. 1 shows a vapor-discharging device which is preferably arrangedabove a cooking area (not shown) to remove an airstream 1 laden withcooking vapors and fumes. The vapor-discharging device has a housing 2which has a main line 3 for the airstream 1. The vapor-dischargingdevice according to FIG. 1 first has a fat filter 4 in the direction offlow of the airstream 1, then a sorbent 5, next a condensation unit 6,following that an odor filter 7 and then a fan 8. A screen or a hood 21may also be provided to better guide the cooking vapors to thevapor-discharging device.

The fat filter 4 is preferably designed as an expanded metal filter oras an eddy current filter or as a labyrinth filter or even as a nonwovenfilter. The fat filter 4 serves to remove fat, oil and water dropletspresent in the airstream out of the airstream 1.

In the present exemplary embodiment, CaCl₂ or LiCl or silica gel or azeolite is used as the sorbent for adsorbing or absorbing water. Thesorbent 5 is preferably applied to a honeycomb carrier material 9 ordesigned as a bulk material container. A heating device 10 is providedin the sorbent 5, preferably in the form of an electric heating coil.Downstream from the sorbent, a condensation unit 6 is provided, designedin the present case as a crosscurrent heat exchanger. An additionalsecond fan 13 is provided for cooling the crosscurrent heat exchanger,creating a cooling airstream 14 through the crosscurrent heat exchanger.Further downstream from the condensation unit 6, the odor filter 7 isprovided, the latter being designed preferably as an activated carbonfilter. Beneath the condensation unit 6, a channel 15 is provided,collecting water of condensation from the condensation unit 6 anddischarging it through a drain 16. The drain 16 may be connected to asiphon (not shown) or a collecting tank (not shown).

The vapor-discharging device depicted in FIG. 1 has essentially twomodes of operation, a normal mode for discharging and cleaning air abovea cooking area and a regeneration mode for regenerating the sorbent 5.In the normal mode, the fan 8 is operated at a high air volume outputand vapors above the cooking area are removed with suction through thefat filter 4, the sorbent 5 and the odor filter 7 and then sent backinto the room in which the cooking area is located. In this mode, firstfat, oil and condensate are removed in the fat filter 4 and then the airin the sorbent is dried and following that, any odoriferous substancesstill remaining are removed from the dried air that has been freed offat and condensate by means of the odor filter 7. For sorption of water,the sorbent 5 must be dehumidified in advance and/or desorbed.

In the present case, preferably so-called chemisorption in which thewater molecule from the gas phase is bound to a solid phase boundary andstored chemically by hydration. Suitable materials for sorbent 5 includein particular CaCl₂ or LiCl. LiCl is especially advantageous because itsdew point is as low as minus (−) 30° C. and a water uptake capacity ofup to 4:1 is possible, i.e., 1 kg LiCl can bind 4 L of water. In thenormal mode for generating an airstream 1, the heated unit 10 andnormally also the condensation unit 6 are not in operation.

The regeneration mode is initiated when the vapor-discharging device isnot being used in the normal mode, i.e., for suction removal of vapors.This is the case in particular when no cooking is being done, e.g., atnight. It is then possible to preprogram by means of a control unit (notshown here) at what times regeneration operation is to be begun, ifnecessary.

In regeneration operation, the fan 8 is operated in a very low stage toconvey only a small quantity of air and/or a regeneration airstream 1′through the vapor-discharging device. The heating device 10 in the formof the electric heating coil 11 is operated so that the sorbent 5 isheated to a so-called desorption temperature. The desorption temperaturedepends on the particular sorbent used. The regeneration airstream 1′entrains the desorbed water out of the sorbent 5. When the regenerationairstream 1′ passes through the condensation unit 6 downstream from thesorbent 5, most of the water in the regeneration airstream 1′ iscondensed out and flows through the channel 15 and out through the drain16. Regeneration operation may preferably be continued for a long periodof time, e.g., for five to eight hours.

The vapor-discharging device according to FIG. 1 may also be providedeven without the condensation unit 6 in regeneration operation of thesorbent 5 or it may be operated with the condensation unit 6 turned off,if regeneration operation is to be used as an air humidifier.

In the exemplary embodiments described below according to FIGS. 2through 5, only the differences and additions in comparison with theexemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1 will be described.

The vapor-discharging device depicted in FIG. 2 has a heat pump (notshown) for regeneration operation of the sorbent, e.g., according to therefrigeration system technology or Peltier technology, using the coldside of the heat pump to cool the condensation unit 6 and the hot sideof the heat pump to heat the sorbent 5. An additional heating system 10may be omitted if the heating capacity of the hot side of the heat pumpis sufficient for desorption of the sorbent 5. When using a Peltierelement as the heat pump, the heat generated on the hot side of thePeltier element is supplied via the cooling airstream 14 to the sorbent5 via a connecting line 19 and a valve device 20 designed in the form ofa valve upstream from the sorbent 5. If the vapor-discharging device isdesigned as a so-called flat screen hood with a screen slide 27, thenthe valve device 20 which is designed in the form of a valve can beopened by pushing in the screen slide or when the screen slide has beenpushed in so that the control unit of the vapor-discharging devicereceives a readiness signal for the start of regeneration operation oninsertion of the screen slide. In the cooking phase, the screen slide isopened and the main intake path is released while the valve 20 isclosed. This system may also be used as a room air dehumidifier in thekitchen if the heat pump (not shown) remains turned off and if thesorbent 5 has already been pre-dried.

FIG. 3 shows another advantageous embodiment of the vapor-dischargingdevice. The differences in comparison with the vapor-discharging deviceshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is that zeolite is preferred as the sorbent andthe heating device 10 is situated upstream in the airstream 1 and/or theregeneration airstream 1′ as a separate heating device. Further upstreamfrom the heating device 10 is the hood 21 which holds the fat filter 4.Downstream from the fat filter 4, a bypass line 22 branches off from theairstream 1, so that the airstream 1 is divided by means of anairstream-dividing device into a first air substream 1 a and a secondair substream 1 b. The first air substream 1 a is passed through thesorbent 5. The second air substream 1 b is sent around the sorbent 5through the bypass line 22. Downstream from the sorbent 5 the first airsubstream 1 a and the second air substream 1 b are combined again. Thevolume flow ratio between the first air substream 1 a and the second airsubstream 1 b preferably amounts to 3:1, for example, i.e., three partsby volume of the airstream 1 are passed through the bypass line 22 andone part by volume is sent through the sorbent 5.

The airstream-dividing device is preferably designed so that the flowresistances between the air bypass line 22 and the sorbent 5 areadjusted so that the desired division into a first air substream 1 a anda second air substream 1 b is achieved. Alternatively to this,adjustable valves or valves may also be provided in the bypass line orin the main line 3 which passes through the sorbent 5.

The air substream 1 b that is passed through the sorbent is almostcompletely dehydrated when using zeolite as the sorbent 5. The zeoliteheats up greatly when it absorbs water. This heat of reaction of thezeolite is dissipated through the second air substream 1 b. The firstair substream 1 a thus leaves the sorbent 5 almost completelydehumidified but it is relatively hot. In order to nevertheless returnan airstream 1 back to the room at a tolerable temperature and with anatmospheric humidity that preferably corresponds to the normal ambientatmospheric humidity, the second air substream 1 b is combined with thefirst air substream 1 a, which has passed only through the fat filter 4and has an elevated atmospheric humidity level but a lower temperaturethan the air substream 1 a and then the combined substreams are sentback into the room.

Regeneration operation in the embodiment of the vapor-discharging deviceaccording to FIG. 3 is described below. The regeneration airstream 1′produced by the fan 8 is many times smaller than that in vapor suctionoperation. The regeneration airstream 1′ is divided at the branch in thebypass line 22 into a first regeneration air substream 1′a, which issent through the heating device 10 and the sorbent 5, designed in thepresent case as a zeolite, and a second regeneration air substream 1′bwhich flows through the bypass line 22. Downstream from the sorbent 5,the two regeneration air substreams 1′a and 1′b are combined again andreturned to the room through the fan 8. Since the regenerationtemperature for zeolite as the sorbent 5 is relatively (approximately250° C.), the first regeneration air substream 1′a sent through thesorbent 5 leaves the sorbent 5 toward the end of the process at arelatively high temperature and with an elevated moisture content. Aftercombining the first regeneration air substream 1′a with the secondregeneration air substream 1′b, which is sent through the bypass line22, tolerable temperatures and a reduced humidity level on the whole areagain achieved in the overall airstream. The dividing ratio between thefirst regeneration air substream 1′a and the second regeneration airsubstream 1′b corresponds to the same ratio as in suction operation,namely preferably ¼ to ¾ between the first regeneration air substream1′a and the second regeneration air substream 1′b.

According to FIGS. 4 and 5, another embodiment of the vapor-dischargingdevice is shown. This embodiment is a modification of thevapor-discharging device according to FIG. 3 where preferably zeolite isagain used as the sorbent 5. The vapor-discharging device according toFIG. 4 in contrast with the vapor-discharging device according to FIG. 3has a condensation unit 6 in the bypass line 22 and it has the fan 8downstream from the condensation unit. Upstream from the heating device10, the additional second fan 13 is provided in the regenerationairstream 1′, but this fan may also be provided downstream from thesorbent 5.

A 3/2-way valve 23 is provided downstream from the sorbent 5. Accordingto FIG. 4, in the first position of the 3/2-way valve 23, the airsubstream 1 a is combined with the bypass line 22 through a connectingline 24 downstream from the condensation unit 6, preferably downstreamfrom the fan 8. In this first position of the 3/2-way valve, thevapor-discharging device is in vapor-discharging operation, where alarge quantity of air above a cooking area is vented, cleaned anddehydrated and then sent back into the room.

In a second position of the 3/2-way valve 23 (according to FIG. 5) themain line 3 is connected to the condensation unit 6 by a connecting line25. The condensation unit 6 is in turn connected to the main line 3 by areturn line 26 upstream from the sorbent 5. The condensation unit 6 isprovided with a drain valve 28 and a drain 16. According to FIG. 5, thevapor-discharging device is shown in regeneration operation in whichonly a small stream of air is carried in circulation through the mainline 3 via the heating device 10, the sorbent 5, the 3/2-way valve 23,the condensation unit 6, the return line 26, and ambient air is suppliedfor cooling the condensation unit 6 via the bypass line 22.

According to FIG. 4, the airstream 1 is divided into the first airsubstream 1 a and the second air substream 1 b based on thepreselectable ratio of the delivery quantities of the fan 8 and the fan13.

The features of the embodiments of the vapor-discharging devicesdescribed above with their modifications can be combined freely with oneanother. For example, the embodiments according to FIGS. 1 and 2 mayalso be provided with the bypass line 22 as in the embodiments accordingto FIGS. 3 through 5. The embodiments according to FIGS. 1 and 2 mayalso be operated with a zeolite as the sorbent.

1-38. (canceled)
 39. A method for discharging an airstream from acooking area, comprising the steps of: passing the airstream through asorbent for sorption of water or water vapor present in said airstreamand regeneration of said sorbent.
 40. The method according to claim 39,including discharging said airstream from a room and returning at leasta portion of said airstream back to said room downstream from saidsorbent.
 41. The method according to claim 39, including separating fatand oil present in said airstream upstream from said sorbent byproviding and utilizing a fat filter.
 42. The method according to claim41, including separating odoriferous substances present in saidairstream by providing and utilizing by at least one of an odor filterdownstream from said fat filter or when using a sorbent that can alsoseparate odors by utilizing said sorbent.
 43. The method according toclaim 40, including dividing said airstream into a first air substreamand a second air substream upstream from said sorbent and passing saidfirst air substream through said sorbent, bypassing said second airsubstream around said sorbent and combining said first air substream andsaid second air substream downstream from said sorbent and sending saidcombined first air substream and said second air substream back intosaid room.
 44. The method according to claim 43, including adjusting theresidual moisture content of said combined airstream by adjusting thevolume flow ratio between said first air substream and said second airsubstream, preferably to a ratio such that said combined airstream has amoisture level corresponding to the moisture level in the absence of acooking process.
 45. The method according to claim 39, includingsorption of said water or said water vapor by at least one of CaCl2,LiCl, silica gel or zeolite.
 46. The method according to claim 39,including regenerating of said sorbent by desorption of said sorbent byheating said sorbent to a temperature suitable for desorption of saidwater from said sorbent.
 47. The method according to claim 46, includingregenerating of said sorbent when it is not necessary to discharge anairstream above the cooking area.
 48. The method according to claim 46,including producing a regeneration airstream through said sorbent duringsaid regeneration process and forming said regeneration airstreamsmaller than said airstream in the cooking process.
 49. The methodaccording to claim 46, including heating said sorbent directly byproviding at least one of a heating device embedded in said sorbent inthe form of heating coils, indirectly by providing microwave radiationadjusted for said water or by heating indirectly by heating saidregeneration airstream upstream from said sorbent.
 50. The methodaccording to claim 48, including returning said regeneration airstreamto said room in order to humidify said room at least in the winter. 51.The method according to claim 48, including condensation of the moisturecontent in said regeneration airstream by providing and utilizing acondensation unit.
 52. The method according to claim 51, includingcooling said condensation unit by at least one of room air, outside air,water, water from the building water system, by providing and utilizinga heat pump, by providing and utilizing a heat pump refrigeration systemor a Peltier element.
 53. The method according to claim 48, includingdividing said regeneration airstream upstream from said sorbent into afirst regeneration air substream and a second regeneration airsubstream, passing said first regeneration air substream through saidsorbent, bypassing said second regeneration air substream around saidsorbent, combining said first regeneration air substream and said secondregeneration air substream downstream from said sorbent and returningsaid combined regeneration airstream back to said room.
 54. The methodaccording to claim 51, including dividing said regeneration airstreaminto a first regeneration air substream and a second regeneration airsubstream upstream from said sorbent, passing said first regenerationair substream through said sorbent, passing said second regeneration airsubstream around said sorbent, returning said first regeneration airsubstream to the inlet side of said sorbent, sending said secondregeneration air substream as a cooling airstream through saidcondensation unit and returning said second regeneration air substreamto said room downstream from said condensation unit.
 55. The methodaccording to claim 51, including discharging said condensed water into adrain or a storage container.
 56. A vapor-discharging device fordischarging an air stream from a cooking area, comprising: a housing afan for conveying the airstream through the vapor-discharging device;and a sorbent arranged in said airstream for sorption of water or watervapor in said airstream.
 57. The device according to claim 56, includingat least one of an expanded metal fat filter, a nonwoven filter or aneddy current filter provided for separation of fat, oil and water ofcondensation from said airstream upstream from said sorbent.
 58. Thedevice according to claim 56, including an activated carbon ordor filterprovided downstream from said fat filter for separation of odors fromsaid airstream.
 59. The device according to claim 56, including aregeneration device for desorption of said water out of said sorbent.60. The device according to claim 59, including said regeneration unithas a heating device for one of direct heating of said sorbent utlizingat least one of a heating device arranged in said sorbent or a microwaveheating device arranged around said sorbent or indirect heating of saidsorbent by heating a regeneration airstream passed through said sorbentupstream from said sorbent.
 61. The device according to claim 59,including said fan creates a regeneration airstream through said sorbentand said regeneration airstream being smaller than heat exchangerairstream.
 62. The device according to claim 59, including saidregeneration device has at least one of a heat exchanger condensationunit or a capacitor according to the crosscurrent or countercurrenttechnology arranged downstream from heat exchanger sorbent.
 63. Thedevice according to claim 62, including said condensation unit includesan outside wall of said housing, said outside wall being cooled by freeconvection of the room air on the outside of said outside wall and waterbeing condensed on the inside of said outside wall.
 64. The deviceaccording to claim 62, including said condensation unit has a coolingdevice, said cooling device has a second fan for cooling saidcondensation unit by utilizing ambient air.
 65. The device according toclaim 64, including said cooling device has at least one of arefrigeration cycle or a Peltier element and an air guidance deviceprovided between the hot side of said refrigeration cycle or saidPeltier element and said sorbent in order to use one of air heated bysaid hot side of said refrigeration cycle or said Peltier element forheating said sorbent in the regeneration process.
 66. The deviceaccording to a claim 63, including a condensate-collecting device in theform of one of a trough or a pan which is connected to one of a drain orcollecting container provided on said condensation unit.
 67. The deviceaccording to claim 56, including said sorbent provided in at least oneof the form of a bulk material in an air-permeable bulk materialcontainer, designed as a porous molded article, the form of a pluralityof plate-like porous molded articles or a plurality of plate-like flatbulk material containers which are arranged one after the other in thedirection of flow or in parallel.
 68. The device according to claim 56,including said sorbent is adhered to at least one of a porous carriermaterial such as an open-pore sponge, a tile material, a corrugatedtextile or a honeycomb textile structure to provide a large surfacearea.
 69. The device according to claim 56, including multiple carriermaterials provided with sorbent arranged one after the other in thedirection of flow or in parallel with said airstream.
 70. The deviceaccording to claim 56, including said sorbent is formed by at least oneof CaCl2, LiCl, silica gel, zeolite or SWS (selective water sorbent).71. The device according claim 56, including a bypass for bypassing atleast one of an air substream or a partial regeneration airstream aroundsaid sorbent in a bypass line and an air-dividing device to adjust thevolume flow ratio between said airstream in said bypass line and saidairstream in the main line.
 72. The device according to claim 71,including said air-dividing device formed by a throttle valve arrangedin said main line downstream from said sorbent.
 73. The device accordingto claim 71, including said heat exchanger is arranged in said bypassline, and a valve device is provided downstream from said sorbent insaid main line, establishing a connection to said bypass line downstreamfrom said heat exchanger in a first position and having a secondposition sending said regeneration airstream to said heat exchanger. 74.The device according to claim 73, including a connecting line providedfrom said heat exchanger to said main line upstream from said heatingdevice for further conveyance of said regeneration airstream.
 75. Thedevice according to claim 56, including said vapor-discharging device isused as one of a room air humidifier or a room air dryer.
 76. The deviceaccording to claim 56, including said vapor-discharging device includingan extractable shield, the extracted position used as a signal for theexhaust operation and the retracted position used as a signal for theregeneration operation.